Vail Valley Academy of Dance (VVAD)

Vail Valley Academy of Dance was founded by Anne Powell in 1989. The school opened its doors with 100 students, two small studios, and three faculty members. Over the last 23 years the school has grown to more than 250 students and eight faculty members.

Annually, our advanced dancers audition for, and gain acceptance into, the summer programs of prestigious ballet schools worldwide. Instructors teaching these summer intensives have taken note of the training displayed by these dancers and because of that attention VVAD enjoys an outstanding reputation nationwide for training excellence.

Several students from the school have gone on to study at the year-round programs of ballet schools, colleges with outstanding dance curriculum, and the training programs of professional companies. These include Ballet Austin, Atlanta Ballet, Mercyhurst University, Interlochen Center for the Arts, Walnut Hill, Suny Purchase College in NYC, Point Park University, University of Florida, University of Utah, and the University of Oklahoma.

Many of our students audition for, and are accepted into, competitive summer dance programs throughout the country such as the Bolshoi Academy in Washington DC and Moscow, Ellison Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, Miami City Ballet, Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, Vail Valley Dance Intensive, Joffrey Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theater, Jillana School, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, Interlochen School of the Arts, David Taylor Dance Theater, and Colorado Ballet.

The professional staff at VVAD takes great pride in all their students' accomplishments whether in dance or other areas of study. Our school strives to teach children not only skills in dance, but also hopes to inspire self-discipline, independent thinking, exceptional time- management skills, creativity, and respect for self and others.

Classes at VVAD parallel the public school schedule from September to May. There is also a three-week summer session. The program should be viewed as a full-year commitment culminating with the eagerly anticipated Spring Recital. The recital has grown in popularity among our community and even people who do not have children in the program, attend performances.

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